The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-11
DIR. JOSEPH PARKER'S VIEWS
An Apt Definition of the Difference Be-
tween Salisbury and Mr.. Gladstone.
Age Enfeebling John Bright Beaconsfeld's
Place Still vacant-The Doctors Expecta-
tiOns and Impressions Of America.


be is simply phenomenally well, and in spirits
he is cheerful to buoyancy and overflow. By his
great kindness was enabled to bring several
American friends into personal contact with
him, and am in a position to say that he re-
ceived them with special interest and courtesy,
while they. their part. gave MIN assurances
of sympathy and enthusiasm which gave him
urfeigued delight asked Mr. Beecher
what America would do il ever Mr.. Gladstone
visited it, and he instantly replied: go mad"
Then, after a moment, he added: mot
the Queen OF England herself would create
half the interest that Mr.. Gladstone would ex-
cite" 1t would be a pity for America to ''go
mad" even temporarily. but it is an infinitely
greater pity that Mr.. Gladstone does come
to America In the matter of the Irish question,
the difference between Dir. Gladstone and Lord
Salisbury is the difference between philosopher
and constable. Lord Salisbury makes very
painstaking policeman He meets discomfort
with handouts, and bitterness of soul he accom-
modates with felon's cell Mr.. Gladstone is as
much opposed to crime and outrage any Tory
can possibly be- but he inquiries into their origin,
their development and their purpose, and he ad
dresses his craftsmanship accordingly. A po-
liceman can act more promptly than philoso-
pher-he has less TO think about and less capac-
ity for thinking.
John Brights will ever be an honored name in
English political history. But Mr. Bright sue
cumbs to the enfeebling action of old age. and is
led about by any number of fears and supersti-
tions. Although he is Quaker, he cannot for
give, and although he goes to war to prove his
love of peace, he thinks that Providence is
the side of coercion. Mr. Bright ia not gracious.
He is stern, dctatorial, dignifed and upright;
but 1t lies not within his power to forget an in
jury or forgive foe IL this Irish question Mr.
Bright's position is ludcrously ironcal He
contradcts his whole public life. Beginning
with his anti-corn-law doctrines, there is no
logical opening leading TO his present position,
and beginning at his present position there is
consistent line of reasoning back to his early
radicalism. Mr.. Bright is a living solecsm.
Lord Randolph Churchill has. in
spects, always been favorte of mine Mr..
Gladstone has pulverzed him again and again,
yet Randy" as his friends affectionately term
him, has turned up after the pulverization
audacious and insolent ever. In Randolph
the very genius of impujence is incarnated.
But this is not the whole measure of the man.
Randolph has great abilities, great perseverance,
and great self-conGdence. Sometimes 1 think
be will come out leading Radical, and if he
does so the act will furnish quite illustrious
instance of self-sacriice. for Toryism alone has
accommodation for political genius. The
place vacated by Beaconsield is still vacant
Liberalism has plethora of talent If man
could put his conscience to sleep and
annhlate everything like progressive prin-
ciple he would find an open way to
eminence and remuneration in the ranks of En-
gish Conservatism. young Liberal of
pacity must be content for time to be the vic
tim or hero of conscience. By the way, may
add that LORD Randolph's brother. the Duke of
Marlborough, came across on the same ship
with me. am still a Radical. / ought TO have
gone over to his Grace and begged to be
ceived into the Conservative fold but sick
ness or other cause prevented my doing so.
Who would not prefer a duke to plainly
named citzenl Would any Americana Perhaps
even this social miracle might occur, for several
American passengers whispered to me, (which
is the dukel" where is the dukel' .sThere
goes the duke" / could not but feel how awful
is the responsibility of being a duke and how
much one happily escapes by being only dis
senting minister.
For years Mr.. Beecher urged me to undertake
a short lecturing tour In the United States. but
until now l never felt that the right time had
come. Alas! the men who most encouraged me
in this direction are not here to hid me welcome
Il mean Henry Ward Beecher, John 3. Cough
and Robert West, of the Chicago Advance. 1
do not conceal my sense OF loss and emptiness,
yet l take heart from the thought that am
among the people who loved and trusted these
eminent men. have not come any sectarian
mission nor have 1 come to obliterate those con-
victioDs and aspirations which have defined my
function and position in England. i am here
the steadfast and Interchangeable friend of Henry
Ward Bsscher, the loyal and devoted
follower of William Ewart Gladstone. the
implacable enemy OF all narrow miudedness in
religion and man who has long predicted
the grandeur and supremacy of the American
nation. l should love to live in America il it
were 1900 miles nearer London | suppose.
however. that the annihilatou of this distance
is impossible even to American inventiveness
and energy. so we must reeale ourselves upon
the Injuries of the inevitable, and pensively re-
gard the Atlantic as an inscrutable blessing.
While l am in this country l expect to see
good deal of religious and political life and
service. Are there any bigots in this broad
lanai Is there room on such acontinent for that
venerable, but odious, monster. Inconsistency? |
If any bigots gather around me our first meet
ing will be our last At the same time, ven
turs to distinguish between bigotry and convic-
tion. Who can respect man who has
science convictions interchangeable stan
dard of morals7 We cannot live long upon foam.
very nutritious A Christian without doctrines |
is painfully like q dog without legs-respectable
enough in limited degree, but obviously want
ing in several particulars. expect to be judged |
as EnRlishman, anu not as an American. |
Allowances must be made for insularity. An |
island is something less than a solar system.
For example, an Englishman likes a pulpit
better than platform when he |
breaches On platform mans
legs painfully conspicuous and his boots |
have a mean look. How a man do a retail
trade without counter7 Have you any puluits |
in Americal BY pulpits l mean nice little |
wooden structures. in shape like a wne-glass.
ask the question with fear and trembling and
do not trouble anybody for reply. Mr..
Beecher was filed with fury when he saw
pulpit, so was Mr. Cough yet the English cling
to the tiny pulpit with the tenacity of their pro-
verbal obstuacy.
had arrived less than seven hours when I
felt what 1t was TO be alone in New York, for
not more than fourteen reporters had called
upon me. To be neglected in this way doth
work like madness in the brain" BY the IN
falling forethought of my friend, Major Pond, /
saw ten OF the fourteen all at once. To the
best OF my troubled recollection thew were
sll smoking. and likely to SMOKE
FOR long 1me to come am
bound TO say, however that more civil deputa-
tiol never waited upon me; every man was GEN
ial, politely inquisitive and most anxious to get
me to commit myself to some definite statement
regarding myself. my family my creditors. nv